Halkbank, Atasehir, Istanbul, Turkey: HALKBANK Producing Women Competition

Written answers to the questions

Halkbank, Turkey's 3rd largest bank, is a public bank has undertaken the mission of being the "Bank of the Producing Women" by being aware of the importance of women entrepreneurship. Halkbank launched the Producing Women Competition in 2022 in order to encourage women entrepreneurs and to highlight successful women entrepreneurs.The first of the competition, which will be traditionally continued every year, was completed, and the women who ranked in the awards ceremony held on March 7, 2022 received their awards.  Applications in 4 categories is open to all women entrepreneurs and women's cooperatives in Turkey:

SME Producer Women Entrepreneur Category
Micro Producer Women Entrepreneur Category
Women's Cooperative Category
Zero Waste Special Award Category

The applications received are evaluated by a jury consisting of Turkey's leading businesswomen and chaired by Halkbank General Manager. A prize of 1.5 million TL was presented to the winning women entrepreneurs. In addition to financial awards, all participants were supported with marketing and communication support, promotional opportunities, Lifetime Banking Service Package and special training from the Producing Women's Academy.

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Just in 5 weeks, a total of 2,494 applications were received from qualified women entrepreneurs and the awards were presented at a ceremony held with the participation of the Minister of Treasury and Cost of the Republic of Turkey. The award ceremony of the “Producing Women Competition”, attended by valuable representatives of politics, business and art, had a great impact. The award ceremony of the Producing Women Competition, which was held with wide participation, was also evaluated as an opportunity to support women's entrepreneurship. Successful women entrepreneurs were highlighted not only with awards but also with visibility opportunities.

The Producing Women Competition received a great attention from women entrepreneurs and received 2,494 applications in 5 weeks when its applications were open. (Far higher than the competitions held for the first time in Turkey.)

The Halkbank Producing Women Competition filled an important gap in the country in order to encourage women and highlight successful women entrepreneurs. Some of the elements that distinguish this competition from others are summarized below:

Stands of Women's Cooperatives: 36 Women's Cooperatives opened booths and had the opportunity to promote their products and services in the hall of award ceremony  venue. In this way, women's cooperatives from 7 geographical regions had the chance to create an invaluable social network.

Think Transform and Sustain Exhibition: A zero-waste-oriented "Think Transform and Sustain" Exhibition, featuring works created by various artists from recyclable materials in line with the ideas of the girl children, was held in the ceremony area.

Women Inspiring the Republic Exhibition: The “Women Inspiring the Republic Exhibition” was held in the venue, which conveys the life stories of pioneering women who contributed to the establishment of the modern Turkish Republic.

Halkbank continues to increase its support for women entrepreneurs. More than 14 billion TL of credit support has been provided to 130K women entrepreneurs. Despite the difficult economic conditions due to the pandemic and the war in Europe, the turnover of 16.25% of women entrepreneurs using loans has improved. 44.3% of Halkbank employees are women. (Turkey average 28.3%, EU 39%, World 39%)